Lord Dalhousie, the Governor General of British

  1. Lord Dalhousie the Governor General of British India was warned by one of his military officers: "if you infringe the institutions of the people of India… that army will sympathize with them; for they are part of the population." Did the events of 1857 fulfill this prophecy?
  2. What were the key factors that led to the Swadeshi Movement in Bengal in 1905? What were the most important consequences of this movement for British rule in India?
  3. Describe the circumstances in which the National Congress was launched in 1885. How far did it represent the political and economic aspirations of the mass of poor Indian subjects of the British Empire during the late 19th century?
  4. Describe how the idea of women as 'mothers of the nation' gained ground in early 20th century British India. Was this different from the view of Indian social reformers of the previous century who wanted to improve their social position?
  5. Why did Gandhi decide to break the law and pick up a handful of salt in Dandi on the western coast of India in 1930? How did this action affect the course of the independence movement in British India?
  6. What were the prevailing British attitudes toward Indian Muslims in post-1857 British India? How did such views shape the outlook of educated Muslims such as Syed Ahmad Khan towards the state of their community?